Genesis 38:17

17 And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock: and she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou sendest [it]?

Genesis 38:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:17

And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock
Either from Timnath, where his flock was shearing, or rather from Adullam, where he lived; since it is probable he was now returning from Timnath, where he had been feasting and making merry with his shearers, and so in a disposition to commit such an action: and she said, wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou send [it]?
she made no objection to the hire or present, only required a pawn, or security for it till she had it; and this was her view indeed in asking an hire that she might have something to produce, should she prove with child by him, to convince him by whom it was.

Genesis 38:17 In-Context

15 When Judah saw her, he thought her [to be] a harlot; because she had covered her face.

16 And he turned to her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me have access to thee; (for he knew not that she [was] his daughter-in-law:) and she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayst have access to me?

17 And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock: and she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou sendest [it]?

18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? and she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that [is] in thy hand: and he gave [them to] her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.

19 And she arose and went her way and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.